re: #275 DaddyG

The Union entered Virginia territory and formally (declared) started the War.

The conflict over Sumter wasn’t as clear cut being a federal installation in South Carolina. The States (even in the north) did not recognize federal powers like we do today. The Civil war was one of the things that solidified the Federal role over States.

I say Lincoln was correct but that didn’t mean it was all that legally clear cut to march the Union armies over the Virginia border in the 1860s.

Looking back from today it is all very clear but don’t be guilty of presentism in your understanding of the war and how people felt about it or justified it in legal terms.

The Union armies were traversing the territory of the United States of America. Which included Virginia. As they had every legal right to do.

It was all the U. S. of A. until the entire U. S. of A., by the Constitutional processes then existing (aka a Constitutional amendment) changed it. The legal way to leave the Union is to propose a Constitutional amendment taking your state or territory out. If it is ratified, then off you go.